Fixing this mess....

[VM1138 1,921]

Yes, I do really like Smith, everyone knows that, but the fact that some still don't is mind blowing to me. I know most have come around and realized the importance he is to this team. That was very evident by all the people wanting him in when he was a healthy scratch down the stretch and for the first two games of the playoffs...

He is one of our best defensemen many nights, and he brings a lot of elements that most of the other defensemen don't have to offer.

I wouldn't argue with anyone about who is a better puck mover, Smith or Green, because they are our two best, and it's not even close. However, Smith does lead all of our defensemen in most advanced stats, including Green...

Fact is, none of us know whether or not the organization view him as a permanent part of the defense corps in the future. But I do believe it would be a big mistake to let him go, unless like I said, it was in a package to bring in a bonifide number one defenseman...

I don't think "most have come around." I counted maybe two other posters who started the pro-Smith chorus. Everyone else admits he had a decent game or two, but the fact is he sat a month because he was garbage. It sounds like you're basing this entirely on advanced stats, which have a very limited use and can be interpreted in many different ways. Smith is not a smart player. He doesn't make smart plays. He may hold onto the puck because he gets trapped in his zone, but he's totally a liability all over the ice.

[krsmith17 7,191]

Where have you been? There were a LOT of people saying it's a f***ing joke that Smith was scratched for games one and two, and it was.

Yeah, Smith's dumb blah, blah, blah, heard it all before... He's grown a lot in the past couple years, but people still see him as a mistake prone kid, when he's not at all anymore. Advanced stats have a very limited use when they completely prove your entire argument to be wrong. Like I said, based on those stats, Smith is our best puck possession defenseman. If you don't value a defender that has the control of the puck more than any other defender while he's on the ice, I have no idea what to tell you. He also leads the back end with most passes that lead to scoring opportunities. Anyway, I'm done with this for another day. I'm pro-Smith, and you're clearly anti-Smith, I believe he will stick with the team, you don't. Whatever...

[kickazz 5,459]

As much as ya'll might like these players I honestly think the Organization would trade them in a heart beat if they could get a good return.

Jurco

Pulkinnen

Smith

They're been scratched way too many times and Blashill has straight up said that he's got too many of the same type of players (in reference to Pulk and Jurco being scratched).

If the Wings were to trade one of their D-men. Their best trade bait is Brenden Smith. Because like Kr said - he's one of the better puck moving defensemen. We wouldn't get jack for Kronwall, Green, Ericsson because of their contracts.

Maybe DK would be another good trade bait but you know that's never going to happen.

So yes while Smith has changed his game for the better, I won't be surprised if they traded him....

Edited April 21, 2016 by kickazz

[krsmith17 7,191]

Trading Jurco or Pulkkinen right now would be a mistake for the simple fact that their value is at an all time low. In saying that, in part of a package I would trade either. I think Jurco still has a ton of potential, not so sure about Pulkkinen though...

[krsmith17 7,191]

I'll reiterate, I would trade Smith in the right deal, but I'm talking top pair elite puck moving defenseman ala Justin Faulk type player, not top 4 defensive defenseman...

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Trading Jurco or Pulkkinen right now would be a mistake for the simple fact that their value is at an all time low. In saying that, in part of a package I would trade either. I think Jurco still has a ton of potential, not so sure about Pulkkinen though...

Doesn't matter if we think jurco or pulkkinen have potential though , sadly on this team it doesn't look like there gonna get a real shot ... I'd love to see jurco get some top 6 and ppl time but who's he gonna replace?same as pulkkinen ... Unless we trade a nyquist and someone else for a defensemen, even there though we have mantha coming ... I believe nosek is out of options? Athanasiou will get more ice time .... Bertuzzi svechnikov will get a chance next few years maybe even frk if he gets 25-30 goals next season

Where we suppose fit all these bodies?

Sadly can't see them getting a bonafied shot especially if we're dumb enough to bring back Richards ... Which could happen with this organization

Probably biased but if I was another team I'd be calling in and trying to get jurco and pulkkinen at a cheap price , look at the Devils this year with Kyle palmeri deal getting them 30 goals

Jurco and pulkkinen with a young team not fill of stars yet could thrive ... Say with the islanders , Florida , Columbus , someone like that

And This is what we should be doing, trying to get a potential player at a good price ... Maybe try getting a Robert hagg out of Philadelphia? Lord knows they won't trade sanheim morin provorov and someone else who's name escapes me now , and they have gostisbere now , hagg could easily be expendable

We need to start adding some young defensemen to our prospect pool .... Call the flyers and ducks , they got a ton of good ones

[krsmith17 7,191]

Jurco should start next season on our third line, and then depending on how he does, we can make a decision from there. I think selling a player with his potential when he's been a healthy scratch for most of the season would be a mistake. Richards shouldn't be back, Mantha should take his spot. Athanasiou is in the lineup now, so that's a non issue. Svechnikov and Bertuzzi are a couple years away. There's no reason one of the two can't be penciled in on the third line next season. I'd choose Jurco and trade Pulkkinen at the draft to move up a few spots...

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Jurco should start next season on our third line, and then depending on how he does, we can make a decision from there. I think selling a player with his potential when he's been a healthy scratch for most of the season would be a mistake. Richards shouldn't be back, Mantha should take his spot. Athanasiou is in the lineup now, so that's a non issue. Svechnikov and Bertuzzi are a couple years away. There's no reason one of the two can't be penciled in on the third line next season. I'd choose Jurco and trade Pulkkinen at the draft to move up a few spots...

How many times have we said cleary and Samuelson shouldn't be back? And they were? Lmao sadly we're dealing with holland so I could totally see Richards returning

Anyways we'll see what happens ... As for the draft unless we can get a good dman first round I'd like to see us go back to and get 3 2nd rounders if possible and select all dmen , last few years there's been some solid dmen coming out in the 2nd rounds

[brett 1,029]

its going to be a long process of fixing this mess. your going to have to rely on the youth for awhile and hope some of them are super stars. no trades are happening anytime soon. we have nothing to offer and no one really wants to come here anymore

a good start is a new GM to really shake s*** up

[DickieDunn 2,571]

With Smith, there are lies, damned lies, and stats. He's been better, but his brain farts still at best balance his offensive ability, and for an offensive defenseman, he doesnt score much.

Better than garbage doesn't mean good.

[MileHighWingsGuy 178]

The season is over...hope Kenny starts working on Cleary's contract early this year...the suspense killed me last year.

[lwing 68]

The season is over...hope Kenny starts working on Cleary's contract early this year...the suspense killed me last year.

Genius!

[LeftWinger 4,962]

Trade Howard, Ericsson, Nyquist, Smith, Jurco and Pulkkinen for more draft picks.

Go after one or two of Stamkos, Okposo, Staal, Backes up front and go balls in deep for Yandle.

Best case scenario, you get 2-3 players that instantly make your team a solid playoff team. Worst case, you get none of them and you promote your deserving kids to full time and are really no worse th a new you were this season.

Oh, and don't re-sign the UFA'S. Helm only if it's $3M or less.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Trade Howard, Ericsson, Nyquist, Smith, Jurco and Pulkkinen for more draft picks.

Go after one or two of Stamkos, Okposo, Staal, Backes up front and go balls in deep for Yandle.

Best case scenario, you get 2-3 players that instantly make your team a solid playoff team. Worst case, you get none of them and you promote your deserving kids to full time and are really no worse th a new you were this season.

Oh, and don't re-sign the UFA'S. Helm only if it's $3M or less.

Go after staal? Have you watched him play? He's done

Got no interest in stamkos's 10-11 cap hit it would take , with our luck he'd probably get more blood clot issues as well , and as for yandle I think he's overrated and just fit in well with Arizona

I think our upgrade at d will be through a trade possibly including a nyquist in a deal and adding ouellet/sproul ... I'd keep jurco and trade pulkkinen with nyquist In a deal for defense

Gotta think nyquist and pulkkinen would fit in great in a ducks uniform and could each get 20-30 (although I'd want more than vatanen)

And we need to add some serious grit upfront as we have too many of the same type of players

[krsmith17 7,191]

I agree, we should stay away from Staal, and we should let Richards walk.

I also agree that Yandle is somewhat overrated, and that we should be looking to upgrade our defense via trade, rather than free agency. However, I would also say that Vatanen is overrated, and of the players that have been rumored to be available, he's the last guy I'd want... I'm okay with trading either Nyquist or Tatar in a package to upgrade our defense, it just depends on which player has the higher value. I'd personally rather trade Tatar, although I'm sure a lot of people would disagree with that. I also think Nyquist would be the preferred player by most teams.

[Jacksoni 418]

I certainly agree with trading Tatar over Nyquist. And yes Nyquist is probably much preferred by other teams.

I doubt Tatar is tradeable as a single piece. Maybe for a pick, say 4th-5th.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

I certainly agree with trading Tatar over Nyquist. And yes Nyquist is probably much preferred by other teams.

I doubt Tatar is tradeable as a single piece. Maybe for a pick, say 4th-5th.

They are both so identical it doesn't make much difference to me. But the thiing people have to keep in mind they'll still need to be a package deal with something bigger if the Wings expect to get some serious value (top 4 defender) back.

Backes wants one thing and that's a cup so he isn't signing here and why would the biggest UFA target (Stamkos) sign with the Wings? His team eleminated the Wings 2 times in a row, Pasha is going to leave, there is no Hedman on this team and also no Bishop. If Stamkos is really that interested in a rebuild he will join Babcock and company in Toronto and play closer to home infront of his friends and family.

Fixing this mess has to start by acknowledging the retool on the fly has failed and go for a real rebuild (although 4 years too late...). Personally i think Mike Hofmann from Ottawa would be a nice signing, he isn't going to sign an extension with them and may want out, he fits the agegroup and will be an UFA in 1 year. Obviously Trouba would be a very nice piece but I doubt the Wings have the pieces to get him. As great as Looch, Backes, Okposo or Stammer would be I just don't see it happening.

[kliq 3,755]

They are both so identical it doesn't make much difference to me. But the thiing people have to keep in mind they'll still need to be a package deal with something bigger if the Wings expect to get some serious value (top 4 defender) back.

Backes wants one thing and that's a cup so he isn't signing here and why would the biggest UFA target (Stamkos) sign with the Wings? His team eleminated the Wings 2 times in a row, Pasha is going to leave, there is no Hedman on this team and also no Bishop. If Stamkos is really that interested in a rebuild he will join Babcock and company in Toronto and play closer to home infront of his friends and family.

Fixing this mess has to start by acknowledging the retool on the fly has failed and go for a real rebuild (although 4 years too late...). Personally i think Mike Hofmann from Ottawa would be a nice signing, he isn't going to sign an extension with them and may want out, he fits the agegroup and will be an UFA in 1 year. Obviously Trouba would be a very nice piece but I doubt the Wings have the pieces to get him. As great as Looch, Backes, Okposo or Stammer would be I just don't see it happening.

At the end of the day, he probably wont sign here, we are 1 of 30 teams so obviously the chances are against us.

But as to why would he? I know you think very low of our kids, but we have a great young core here in Detroit. Mrazek, Larkin, DD, Mantha, AA IMO are players you build around.

Secondly, this teams has a history. The possibility of having your jersey hung in the rafters next to the likes of Howe, Lindsay, Yzerman, Lidstrom does mean something.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

I certainly agree with trading Tatar over Nyquist. And yes Nyquist is probably much preferred by other teams.

I doubt Tatar is tradeable as a single piece. Maybe for a pick, say 4th-5th.

4th or 5th for Tatar? No way man ... He had an off season but he can get 25-30 depending on the role he got on a team , our coach is just clueless

Put Tatar with the ducks ,Hawks, pens top 6 and he easily gets 25-30

First rounders are hard to fetch so he won't get that but I'd think he could easily get a 2nd rounder

I personally wouldn't even consider giving him up for that

[kliq 3,755]

Trade Howard, Ericsson, Nyquist, Smith, Jurco and Pulkkinen for more draft picks.

Go after one or two of Stamkos, Okposo, Staal, Backes up front and go balls in deep for Yandle.

Best case scenario, you get 2-3 players that instantly make your team a solid playoff team. Worst case, you get none of them and you promote your deserving kids to full time and are really no worse th a new you were this season.

Oh, and don't re-sign the UFA'S. Helm only if it's $3M or less.

For someone who so adamantly wants to get rid of so many guys, and is so concerned with cap space, why do you want Staal? Staal is going to command a big contract due to his name, but the guy has been declining for years now. He's essentially going to end up being a more expensive better version of Brad Richards.

Edited April 22, 2016 by kliq

[frankgrimes 1,836]

At the end of the day, he probably wont sign here, we are 1 of 30 teams so obviously the chances are against us.

But as to why would he? I know you think very low of our kids, but we have a great young core here in Detroit. Mrazek, Larkin, DD, Mantha, AA IMO are players you build around.

Secondly, this teams has a history. The possibility of having your jersey hung in the rafters next to the likes of Howe, Lindsay, Yzerman, Lidstrom does mean something.

When did I say that? I think of them in a realistic way. Just as I did with Tatar and Goose it's not my nor their fault that some people thought they were going to be the next Euro twins, or 30+ goal scorers. Larkin and Mantha are the only 2 young guys I'm really high on and I believe they should work out very well in the future. That doesn't mean I'm expecting them to become superstars or anything crazy like that just 2 solid pieces to start a rebuild around, on the backend it's of course Danny D. other than those 3 everyone has to be available for the right deal.

The Wings are an Original 6 team, with a rich history and a ton of great players of course but Stamkos and Meehan (his agent) aren't stupid, they'll do their homework and look at the future. And this means he will look at what team has the chance to win a cup in the next few years or if none of them are having the capspace the next best thing will be family reasons and sadly the edge here goes to Toronto. Although If I were him I would sign there and deal with the over the top spotlight. I'm more than sure Meehan will listen to the Wings offer and push it to Stamkos but there will be a ton of other teams doing the same. Toronto will push their come home and IF you win a cup you are a god here...BS and mentioning by one word what happens, if he doesn't or has a scoring slump. But I'm sure Stammer is intelligent enough to ask Phaneuf and Kessel what it means to play there and being blamed and constantly bothered by stupid reporters.

To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if some team no one expected comes out of the shadows and gets this guy. But even if the Wings get him he can't stop there the defense needs to be fixed too and I highly doubt that can be done in 1 off-season maybe I'm completely wrong and the Wings get Stamkos, Backes and/or Trouba but honestly I'd rather not dream about what if and keep it realistic.

[Richdg 267]

Start with this lineup and build from there:

Abby-Larkin-????

Mantha-AA-????

Svechnikov-Z-Jurco

????-Glendening-????

?????

Dekeyser-?????

Kronwall-Marchenko

Ericsson-Green

Oullett-Sproul

Mrazek

Howard

That leaves 6 roster spots open. That also leaves the following group to either be traded or kept depending on the deals possible:

Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, Pulk, Jensen, and Smith. We of course would have 16 million or so in cap space to keep any of those 6, contracts taken on in trades, and/or sign UFA's. Let Helm, Richards, and Andersson all walk.

[Richdg 267]

of course if there is any way to bribe Ericsson and move him without having to retain a large part of his salary that should be done. But that is a lot of if's and maybe's......

if we choose to we can buy him out. It would be a 1.42 million cap hit for the next 8 years though. To go along with the 1.1 cap hit for Weiss.

Edited April 22, 2016 by Richdg

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Start with this lineup and build from there:

Abby-Larkin-????

Mantha-AA-????

Svechnikov-Z-Jurco

????-Glendening-????

?????

Dekeyser-?????

Kronwall-Marchenko

Ericsson-Green

Oullett-Sproul

Mrazek

Howard

That leaves 6 roster spots open. That also leaves the following group to either be traded or kept depending on the deals possible:

Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, Pulk, Jensen, and Smith. We of course would have 16 million or so in cap space to keep any of those 6, contracts taken on in trades, and/or sign UFA's. Let Helm, Richards, and Andersson all walk.

Let's be realistic. When was the last time this team (or any team) filled that many holes with either free agency or trades? Two top 6 wingers and a top pair defenseman. That's not easy to find. More than likely, we will move up some plugs to fill those spots and bring more guys in from the minors to fill the spots of the plugs.

[marcaractac 3,963]

Start with this lineup and build from there:

Abby-Larkin-????

Mantha-AA-????

Svechnikov-Z-Jurco

????-Glendening-????

?????

Dekeyser-?????

Kronwall-Marchenko

Ericsson-Green

Oullett-Sproul

Mrazek

Howard

That leaves 6 roster spots open. That also leaves the following group to either be traded or kept depending on the deals possible:

Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, Pulk, Jensen, and Smith. We of course would have 16 million or so in cap space to keep any of those 6, contracts taken on in trades, and/or sign UFA's. Let Helm, Richards, and Andersson all walk.

Ladies and gentlemen your 2016-17 Edmonton Oilers.